1 killed, 1 critically wounded in separate city shootings

One man was shot dead following a family disagreement and another was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds in separate shootings, Chicago police said this morning.

The slaying, which occurred at about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday in an alley in the 1700 block of North Monitor Avenue in the North Austin neighborhood, is believed to be connected to a quarrel between the 29-year-old victim and the boyfriend of a female cousin, authorities said.

As the victim, Maurice Mathews, and the boyfriend exchanged words regarding man's treatment of the woman, the second man pulled a handgun and shot Mathews in the chest, police said.

Mathews, of the first block of North Latrobe Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police quickly received a description of the gunman's getaway vehicle and pursued it on the Eisenhower Expressway, authorities said. The man was eventually arrested and was being held by police in west suburban Maywood.

The gunman, who has not yet been charged, had an active order of protection against him filed by the victim's cousin and the shooting occurred while Mathews was defending his cousin, a source said.

An autopsy on Mathews was scheduled for later today.

Prior to that shooting, a 23-year-old man was wounded at about 10:20 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Drexel Avenue on the South Side, police said,

Police said the victim, a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, was sitting in a vehicle when the gunman approached, pulled a handgun and opened fire. The victim was hit multiple times in the torso and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

Authorities were calling the shooting gang related, but didn't have a description of the shooter.